Envelope



(No Model.)

R. W. BAINBRIDGE. ENVELOPE.

Patented Jan. 6, 1891 i ht n a 015' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD WV. BAINBRIDGE, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

ENVELOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,092, dated January 6, 1891. Application filed $eptember 11, 1890. Serial No. 364,652. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD W. BAIN- BRIDGE, of Brooklyn, Kings county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to envelopes for inclosing samples and like articles for transmission through the mails.

I will describe an envelope embodying 'my invention, and then point out the novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the envelope as open. Fig. 2 shows it closed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the manner of attaching the fastening devices. Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the fastening-device attachment.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the body of the envelope, having the integral side flaps A and the integral end flaps A These flaps are designed to be turned inwardly upon the body portion when it is desired to close the envelope.

B designates the fastening devices, consisting of endless elastic bands. I have shown two of these fastening devices; but there may be a less or agreater number, depending somewhat on the size of the envelope.

As a means for attaching the fastening devices, the body A of the envelope is provided with perforations a, through which-the fastenings are passed. A bridge-piece 1) extends transversely through the endless band B across the perforation a, and the heads I) of the bridge are secured to the body A by means of glue or similar material, and it will be seen that the spaces between the heads Z) laterally of the bridge-piece are entirely open, thus making it possible to apply an endless band B. For the sake of strength, I prefer to employ two bridge-pieces b for each fastener, one on each side of the body A.

The bridges b and their integral heads I) are preferably of yielding material, such as paper or cloth and paper, so that should a portion of a head I) become loose it will not tear or scratch the contents of the envelope, as would result were metal used for the purpose.

It will be seen that the flaps may be turned upon either side of the body portion A, and that the fastening devices B may be drawn through the perforations a to extend upon either side of the body. By this construction the envelope may be reversed and used a second time.

By employing a flat endless band B for the fastening there is very little, if any, danger of its coming loose.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an envelope, the combination, with the body portion having perforations and the flaps adapted to fold upon the body portion, of elastic endless bands, each extended through aperforation of the body portion, and abridgepiece extending transversely through the band across the perforation and secured at its ends to the body portion, substantially as specified.

2. In an envelope, the combination, with the body portion and the flaps, of the elastic endless bands and the attaching devices therefor consisting of the bridge-piece having the heads, the said attaching devices being of yielding material and having the spaces between the heads laterally of the bridge-piece entirely open, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

RD. W. BAINBRID GE.

Witnesses:

E. H. MORREY, JOHN R. LLOYD. 

